He quickly reached inside the nightgown and grabbed her panties.

With a swift pull, he tore them off.

Belle screamed, “Victor, bastard, get off me!”

Victor, drunk and still recalling Vivian’s words—how he spoiled Belle too much, which made her spoiled and demanding—decided he had to make a point.

With a forceful swipe, he ripped the silk nightgown apart, sending fragments fluttering.

Belle was left completely exposed.

Victor’s eyes burned with rage.

Tonight, he was determined to have her!

Belle desperately crawled away.

But Victor grabbed her ankle and pulled her back onto him, his eyes reddened at the corners. “Belle, ask yourself, which wife has been married for days and is still a virgin? Which wife doesn’t want to have sex with her husband?”

He held Belle’s legs.

Pinned them against her shoulders.

Belle, full of tears and humiliation, pleaded, “Victor, don’t touch me.”

Victor was beyond listening.

He could endure when he hadn’t experienced it before.

But since his first encounter with Vivian, his self-control had weakened significantly.

With her body exposed and being his wife, someone he had loved for eight years, even the most stoic person would be tempted.

He unfastened his belt.

It seemed he was about to take it out.

Belle braced herself for the worst. “Victor, I know you and Vi...”

Victor suddenly stopped.

He looked at Belle with a disinterested gaze and let her go. “You’re on your period.”

Belle, “...”

Relieved, she scrambled to her feet, grabbing a shawl and wrapping it around herself, hurriedly leaving the study.

Victor rubbed his head.

He collapsed heavily onto the tatami mat.

At this point, the alcohol had mostly worn off.

He found Belle’s behavior strange.

Since their wedding night, she had been odd.

Could it be... she found out something?

Impossible!

He had been careful.

Looking at the discarded clothes on the floor, Victor felt a deep emptiness. He picked up Belle’s silk nightgown, pressed it to his face, and inhaled deeply, finding some solace in her scent.

Belle sat on the toilet.

She felt as if she had survived a calamity.

Gasping for air, she was overcome with tears.

When Belle composed herself and emerged from her room, Victor was already gone.

However, on the nightstand by the bed was a hot water bottle and a steaming cup of ginger tea.

Belle gritted her teeth.

She almost wished Victor had been more decisive, rather than this back-and-forth that felt so fragmented.

Destroying six years of affection while simultaneously reminding her of their shared memories was unbearable.

As she stood there in a daze, her phone rang.

It was Mindy, with a commanding tone. “Your uncle’s arm is injured. You need to visit Sandalwood Estate tomorrow.”

Belle's heart skipped a beat.

She agreed immediately.

She knew that Alfred’s injury was likely due to her actions, and it was her responsibility to visit him.

The next day was Saturday.

Belle called Victor to see if he would be joining her.

Even though she felt she should go alone, visiting her husband’s uncle alone might seem odd.

To her surprise, he didn’t answer.

Relieved, Belle decided to go by herself. If Mindy asked, she would have an excuse.

Due to her period, she wasn’t wearing a skirt.

Instead, she wore black pants, a white hoodie, and casual sneakers, looking like a high school student.

At nine o'clock, she left for Sandalwood Estate.

Around ten, she arrived at the estate.

The butler, recognizing Belle, greeted her respectfully. “Young madam, please come in. Mr. Shaw is at home.”

Belle smiled politely.

Carrying some supplements, she followed the central path and was just about to reach the grand entrance of the living room when she was startled by a series of aggressive barking from the side.

Her legs went weak.

Turning her head with trembling anxiety, she saw four large dogs baring their teeth and barking furiously.

Their eyes gleamed with menace.

Belle nearly collapsed.

She hurriedly quickened her pace.

But the four dogs lunged after her, barking loudly, “Woof! Woof! Woof!”

Terrified, Belle screamed.

She dropped the heavy supplements and fled. “Help!”

Belle’s deepest fear had always been dogs!

She sprinted desperately toward the living room.

Her forehead slammed into what felt like a wall of flesh. Before she could say anything, the four dogs had lunged at her, biting at her pant legs.

Belle clung to the wall of flesh, her feet off the ground and lifted high.

Alfred, with a gloomy and stern expression, commanded coldly, “Down!”

The dogs instantly became obedient.

They lay on the ground, wagging their tails furiously, transforming from feral wolves into docile puppies in an instant.

After dealing with the dogs, Alfred turned his attention to Belle, who was clinging to him like a frightened octopus.

Their bodies were pressed closely together.

Belle's soft lower body was tightly pressed against his, her hips and thighs pressed against his lower abdomen.

Alfred, maintaining his composure, took a step back, “Haven’t you had enough?”

Belle’s face flushed deeply.

Rationality told her that her behavior was utterly inappropriate and she should immediately get down.

But faced with the circle of dogs...

She found she was simply too afraid.

Belle's face was a mix of anxiety and embarrassment. “Can you make them... leave?”

As she spoke, her body slipped down slightly.

She quickly scrambled back up, as if climbing a tree.

Alfred, silent, growled, “Get out!”

The dogs, sensing their owner’s displeasure, slowly retreated, lying down at the doorway.

Belle hurriedly climbed down from Alfred, her face bright red.

She dared not lift her head, “Uncle, I heard you injured your arm, so I came to see you and express my gratitude.”

Alfred gave her a brief glance.

Belle lowered her head further, “If it hadn’t been for you, I don’t know what might have happened that night.”

Alfred’s cold voice fell from above, “Cain is notorious for being a lecher.”

The implication was clear: did she really not know what might happen with a man like him?

Belle bit her lip, standing her ground, “I was careless and didn’t check his ‘background’ properly.”

Alfred regarded her with a hint of interest.

She was adaptable, it seemed.

He murmured in silence, “I’m not injured. You can leave.”

Belle squeezed her fingers nervously, “I brought some supplements for you...”

Alfred looked at her with amusement, “Where are the supplements?”

Belle froze.

She had dropped them while fleeing from the dogs.

She forced a sheepish smile, “I’ll go get them.”

She carefully exited the room.

Alfred watched her move as if glued to the walls, talking soothingly to the dogs, “You can’t chase her again now. Your dad is watching. Be good, stay still...”

Seeing one of the dogs stretch lazily, Belle nearly lost her mind. “Please, don’t move!”

Alfred, observing her reaction, thought, “Where did Victor find such a scaredy-cat?”

At that moment, the phone on the coffee table vibrated with a low hum.

Alfred strode over, picked up the phone, and said, “Speak.”

Ian’s voice was full of triumph, as if seeking praise, “Mr. Shaw, we’ve managed to contact the girl from that night. Do you want to meet her?”